Supreme Court Demands Answers: Unacceptable Delays in Custodial Death Case Arrests

In a powerful display of judicial oversight, the Supreme Court of India has sharply questioned both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Madhya Pradesh government regarding the inexplicable delays in arresting five policemen accused in a 2008 custodial death case. The court’s stern stance underscores a critical message: justice, though sometimes slow, cannot be indefinitely denied, especially when it involves the very guardians of law.

The bench, comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and Hima Kohli, expressed profound displeasure at the “slow pace” of the investigation and the “delay” in bringing the accused policemen to justice.

The case revolves around the tragic death of Pran Singh, a tribal man, who died in police custody in February 2008. His family's long and arduous fight for justice led to a High Court order in 2011, mandating a CBI probe into the incident.

What makes the delay particularly concerning is that the CBI had already submitted its report in 2012, unequivocally indicting the policemen involved.

For a decade since that report, the accused have largely evaded arrest, a situation the Supreme Court found utterly unacceptable. Justice Chandrachud, addressing the CBI's counsel, pointedly remarked, “This is an investigation of 2008, and the CBI report came in 2012. Ten years later, what is the difficulty in arresting the policemen? What is the difficulty for the MP government?”

The court’s frustration was palpable when the CBI sought further time, a request that was met with a clear refusal.

“We want to know why you are not arresting them. This is an indictment by the CBI,” the bench stated, emphasizing that the rule of law must prevail without exception. The judges made it clear that no individual, regardless of their position, is above the law, and accountability is paramount in a democratic society.

The court's unequivocal message reinforces the principle that police officials, entrusted with maintaining law and order, must also face justice when they transgress it.

The persistent efforts of Pran Singh’s father to seek justice for his son’s death highlight the enduring struggle many ordinary citizens face against systemic inertia.

The Supreme Court's intervention offers a renewed beacon of hope, reaffirming that the judiciary remains a crucial bulwark against impunity. The court has now scheduled the matter for further hearing on November 1, demanding concrete answers and swift action from both the investigative agency and the state government.

The nation watches, anticipating that this intervention will finally bring long-awaited justice to Pran Singh's family and reinforce public trust in the justice system.